tions and get “behind the wheel,” so to speak, to test many of these technolo- gies and services in a relaxed atmos- phere. Cataldi says this provided a real chance to learn and get the creative juices flowing.
“Planners should take advantage of these types of programs or content libraries hosted on supplierwebsites for whitepapers on best practices,” notes Cataldi.“There’s a world of information available to help de-mystify technology advancements and educate planners so they feel comfortable expressing their vision.”
There may be no greater resource avail- able to planners when it comes to get- ting themost out ofmeeting technology than consulting directly with industry
experts.Cataldi feels that planners don’t take advantage of this opportunity often enough.
“In my 22-plus years providing technol- ogy solutions for the meeting and events industry, probably one of the most underutilized resources is the
technology professional,” he laments. “Choosing which technology will most appropriatelymatch business goals and expectations can be a scary thing for a planner. The same could be said for the technology expert if he or she was put into a position to handle the planning logistics of a citywide conference.”
“Some of the most successful, innovative, and unique events I have worked on spawned from a ‘what if’ brainstorming session with a planning partner,” Cataldi continues. “The ideas streamed freely around the room as we stood in the center of a the show floor hall. By the time our meeting con- cluded, we had a shared vision that pushed the envelope in terms of pairing décor and technology with food and beverage that ultimately created an atmosphere with long- lasting impact.”
Showers agrees, stating, “When you have an event technology partner who is involved with your event from the early stages, you are able to realize the
added value of their knowledge and experience. An example would be something we may suggest, such as using digital displays in place of print as event signage throughout the pre-func- tion or other public areas of a venue. Where you may have a fixed cost with the print signage, going digital enables you to change content,provide an addi- tional sponsorship display location,and even add sponsors right up until the day before the event.”
“We also may suggest adding elements of an event app to these displays as part of achieving the overall goal of the event,”Showers adds. “This would be an example of using our expertise to max- imize the value of the technology we can bring to the table.”
Getting the most out of meeting and event technology doesn’t have to be an intimidating process. Partnering with the right industry professionals can go a long way toward creating a memorable event for all the right reasons.
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 43
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